Experts want companies not to hardsell sugary drinks

In a letter to CEOs of Coca Cola and PepsiCo, a consortium of experts and insititions said while consumption of sugary drinks have declined in developed countries like the US and Europe, these firms are "investing billions of dollars annually to increase sales" in low- or middle-income countries.Sushmi Dey | TNN | April 22, 2016, 07:58 IST

Latest estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed the prevalence of diabetes in India has doubled from 32 million in 2000 to 63 million in 2013.NEW DELHI: Public health groups and institutions from around the world have urged manufacturers of sugar sweetened beverages to acknowledge the burden of sugar-related diseases in children and limit marketing and advertisement of such products.

In a letter to chief executives of Coca Cola and PepsiCo, the consortium said while consumption of sugary drinks have declined in developed countries like the United States and Europe, these firms are "investing billions of dollars annually to increase sales" in low- or middle-income countries.

Consumption of sugary beverages and junk food have been identified as the main reasons for increasing obesity among children in India, often leading to diabetes and various other physical as well as psychological disorders. Latest estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed the prevalence of diabetes in India has doubled from 32 million in 2000 to 63 million in 2013.

The health groups and agencies raising the issue include the George Institute for Global Health from Australia & India, Centre for Science and Environment, World Obesity Federation and World Public Health Nutrition Association. Besides, Alliance for the Control of Tobacco Use and Health Promotion, Brazil and the Nutritional Health Alliance, Mexico are also part of the consortium.

The groups have also written to major institutional investors of these companies.

In February, Centre for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) had released a report — 'Carbonating the World' - highlighting the billions of dollars spent by Coke and Pepsi in countries like Brazil, China, India, and Mexico to promote sugar-drink sales. CSPI said soda companies are following in the footsteps of tobacco companies as they are now targeting developing nations after sales plummeted in developed countries.

The advocates of public health have also urged the manufacturers of sugary drinks to reduce container sizes, include warning notices about adverse health effects on soda containers, reduce the calorie content of beverages to no more than 40 calories per 12 ounces, and stop fighting public health measures aimed at reducing soda consumption, such as taxes, warning labels, or marketing restrictions.

In India, the health ministry is working on a proposal to levy higher taxes and tougher advertising norms on junk food and sugar-sweetened beverages to cut consumption, mainly among children. The measures are part of a bigger action plan being drawn by the government to control the growing incidence of diabetes in the country.

Dr Vivekanand Jha, executive director, The George Institute for Global Health says, "Around 2 lakh deaths occur every year due to sugar related diseases. The negative impact of sugar is a critical area to be worked upon and we are sure that with talks about imposing higher taxes on sugar items, we will be able to curb the consumption to a large extent."

According to the Diabetes Foundation and Centre of Nutrition and Metabolic Research, in India, the per capita consumption of sugary beverages has gone up by more than five times since 1998.